Advisories from the surgeon general of the United States are public statements that call attention to critical public health issues for consideration by Congress and state policymakers. The surgeon general, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by Congress, serves a 4-year term as part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a comprehensive advisory that warned about the growing problem of the impact and harms of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents. The advisory highlighted the current evidence and “ample indicators” citing 100 studies and surveys on the impacts of social media on the mental health of America’s youth, and opportunities for new research on the magnitude of social media’s impact on young people. It also highlighted that youth mental health is shaped by several factors.
To call further attention to this issue, Dr. Murthy, in a recent New York Times op-ed, is recommending a next step to urge Congress to require a “surgeon general’s warning label” on social media platforms, highlighting that it is “associated with significant mental health harms” on children and adolescents, and social media has not been proven safe.
Only Congress can pass legislation to require a surgeon general to issue “warning labels” similar to those based on evidence of tobacco products and alcohol use that were issued several years ago. It is unclear if Congress will consider a new social media warning recommendation and request this year.
Dr. Murthy has issued another advisory that “mass shooting incidents cause outsized collective trauma on society.” According to the new advisory, America’s youth are exposed to considerable firearm violence and trauma that can cause depression and other mental health disorders, regardless of whether they are victims. The advisory states that “As firearm-related injuries and deaths increase, the grief, trauma, and risk of mental health challenges for children and family members of victims increases too.” The advisory cites a KFF Report that 54% of all adults in the U.S. said they or a family member have experienced a gun-related incident.
Included in the advisory on the impacts of gun violence are recommendations on the need to increase mental health resources and expand mental health counselors and other providers in educational settings. The report highlighted that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) passed in 2022 by Congress included $2 billion to hire more mental health providers in schools. NBCC outlined the provisions in that legislation in 2022.
We will continue to monitor the next steps by Congress in responding to these recent actions by the surgeon general and provide updates to NCCs as they develop.
